Yard Articles


Preparing your yard for winter weather

frozenplant34797925.jpgYou have worked in your yard during the spring and summer months, we have now arrived in the fall months of the year and it is time to prepare your yard for winter. The more prepared your yard is for winter, the better your yard will return and flourish in the spring. Start preparing your yard for winter in the fall months.

"Preparing your yard for winter weather" »

How to have a dog friendly yard

dog30338610.jpgHaving a dog as part of your family has become an American tradition. Many families have dogs that are part of the family that will spend most of their time in the house, while other dogs are still family members, but they spend their time outside. With whatever type of dog you have, you need to have a yard that is friendly to them and will keep them entertained. A boring yard to a dog is a yard full of mystery and mishaps waiting to happen.

"How to have a dog friendly yard" »

Are weeds a problem in your yard

bench30334537.jpgMany people have found that while they have high hopes for a lovely yard, it is overtaken with weeds, and they just do not know what to do. Pesky weeds can often turn into stubborn weeds that lead to the owners of the weed-infested yard giving up on it entirely. If weeds are a problem in your yard, then consider the following:

"Are weeds a problem in your yard" »

Grillin' Up the Options

pda30321865.jpgWhen you are making room for a barbeque in your backyard, you may ask yourself what your options are. While there are lots of grill brands to choose from, there are three basic types of grills to choose from which you can add the bells and whistles to. They are gas, charcoal, or wood grills. There are pros and cons to each option, so let's explore them all.

"Grillin' Up the Options" »

Backyard patios

remodeling32192502.jpgIt once was that the patio or deck, or backyard space of your home was outside, but today, it is a place where the indoors move out. Your backyard and patio have become an extension of your home, and there are a lot of ways you can take advantage of this space and make it a great extension of your home. The following are some great tips for transforming a basic backyard patio into a comfortable, inviting space you use as much as you do your living room.

"Backyard patios" »

Tower gardening

gardening27363784.jpgTower gardening is a great way to grow some of your fruits and vegetables, such as peas and strawberries, in a limited space. Rather than growing out you build a tower and plant your vegetables inside the tower. The tower will only take up as much space as it is in diameter, which means you can plant more vegetables or fruits next to one another. Tower gardening is also a great way to maximize your crop yield because you can get more crops in a limited space.

"Tower gardening" »

Tips on getting your yard ready for summer

watering27365040.jpgAfter the long winter season, you are more than ready to get outside and get moving. Once spring and summer hit it is time to get the outside of your home cleaned up so that you can invite friends and family over for social gatherings, but also so that you can have a great looking yard. Here are some tips that you can follow to get your yard ready for the warm summer months that are coming soon.

"Tips on getting your yard ready for summer" »

Things you can do to get your lawn ready for summer

flowers39181201.jpgOnce spring hits many of us begin thinking about green lawns and summer weather, which is coming quickly around the corner. In order to get a nice green lawn for summer you are going to need to put in a lot of hard work. Most people who have done lawn care know that getting a green lawn for summer requires the work to be started before summer even hits.

"Things you can do to get your lawn ready for summer" »

Preparing your yard for a summer BBQ

dog30423421.jpgOnce summer time comes around people are ready to head outdoors to start barbequing. The main reason for this is that the summer weather is perfect for this type of outdoor cookout, and it gives people a reason to invite friends over and socialize. In order to invite friends and family over your number one priority has to be making your friends and family comfortable and to ensure that they are well taken care of. The best thing that you can do to make sure your guests are comfortable and that they will enjoy themselves is to make sure that you yard is prepared for a summer full of barbeques.

"Preparing your yard for a summer BBQ" »

Preparing your yard for a metal frame swimming pool

contractor26497556.jpgIf you plan on putting up a temporary metal framed swimming pool for the summer you will need to make sure that your prep your yard. Prepping your ready for the swimming pool installation is the most time consuming part of the pool installation, but it is also the most important. The reason that it is so important is because if the pool is not installed in a prepped yard it can become a safety hazard; the pool can collapse at any point, which is something that needs to be avoided.

"Preparing your yard for a metal frame swimming pool" »

Preparing your outdoor furniture

statue31190090.jpgAfter a long winter in storage, you are ready to pull out your outdoor furniture for summer. Before you can use your outdoor furniture after getting it out of storage, you are going to need to clean your outdoor furniture and prepare it for use during the summer months.

"Preparing your outdoor furniture" »

Preparing the yard for summer

bench30334537.jpgAs soon as the danger of winter frost has passed, you are ready to get out and start getting your yard work going. The sooner you can go out and get busy the sooner your yard is going to be prepared for summer. Preparing your yard for summer takes a lot of time. The work has to be started during the spring because once the hot summer months hit you will want to enjoy the green lawn, not work on getting your lawn green.

"Preparing the yard for summer" »

How to get your backyard ready for summer

dog30423421.jpgWith summer just around the corner, it is time to start getting your backyard ready for summer. When you get your backyard ready for summer, it means that you can entertain your guests in your backyard without being embarrassed by your yards appearance. How you get your backyard ready for summer is going to depend on the area that you live in. If you live in an area that has harsh winter months you will want to focus on general maintenance of your lawn and backyard space. If you live in warmer areas, you can focus on sprucing up your backyard space because maintenance will not be very hard.

"How to get your backyard ready for summer" »

How to get a colorful, low maintenance yard

house9827399.jpgMost people love beautiful yards with lots of color. They provide a nice sanctuary to escape to when you want to enjoy the fresh air, make a great place to entertain, and increase your home's curb appeal and resale value.

"How to get a colorful, low maintenance yard" »

Curb Appeal

neighborhood37738659.jpgThe first impression someone has of your home is from the curb, thus comes the concept of curb appeal. Curb appeal is how appealing your home and yard look within the first minute or so of seeing them. But why is curb appeal important?

"Curb Appeal" »

Spring Cleaning for your Yard

bench30334537.jpgSummer is a time to spend out of doors and in the yard, but sometimes your yard isn't ready when summer gets here. When you are spring cleaning your house, you may want to think about extending your activities to your yard as well so you can enjoy it all summer long. Here are some tips to get you started to help get your yard ship shape and ready for days of play and nights of barbeques.

"Spring Cleaning for your Yard" »

A Slow Summer Afternoon on the Porch

leguminous39181227.jpgA porch is a great way to take advantage of spring and summer weather in relative comfort. Outdoor living starts on your porch patio or deck, so when winter is done, it's time to spruce up your outdoor living space. Here are some tips to get your outdoor living spaces looking spruce and ready for some serious summer fun.

"A Slow Summer Afternoon on the Porch" »

How to install a vinyl fence

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Many people think about installing a vinyl fence over a wooden one because of the benefits that they provide. One of the biggest benefits that a vinyl fence has over a wooden fence is that there is no yearly maintenance to be done on the fence, meaning you do not have to stain the wood each year to protect it from the weather. One of the drawbacks to installing a vinyl fence over a wooden fence is how much more complicated the installation process is. The reason that the installation process is so much more complicated is because of how tight everything must fit together, there is no room for error. Something else that makes it harder to install yourself is that you must always be thinking about the vinyl expanding and contracting, if you install the fence in extreme weather, you will be in for a nice surprise when the weather goes the other way.

If you are thinking about installing a vinyl fence in your yard here are the steps you will need to follow to install the fence properly.

"How to install a vinyl fence" »

How to install a pond in your backyard

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Many people enjoy the thought of having a pond in their backyard. A pond in the backyard will allow them to have fish or turtles in the open, but a pond does more than that. A pond will provide your backyard with a distinct look; it provides elegance in a rather plain and boring backyard. The problem that most people face when it comes to putting a pond in their backyard is installing the pond themselves.

Here are the steps that you will need to follow to install a pond ion your backyard.

"How to install a pond in your backyard" »

Best tips for installing a wood fence

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One thing that many people do not like about fences is installing them, especially wood fences. Even if people do not like installing wood fences, they still like the look of a wood fence. Wood fences give off a rustic look, which is perfect for some houses. Something else that you need to know about a wood fence when compared to a vinyl fence is that it can add to your landscape design, especially if it is stained the right color. If you are thinking about installing a wood fence, you should know that there are some tips that you can follow to help make installing that wood fence easier and quicker.

Here are some of the best tips you can use to install a wood fence in your yard.

"Best tips for installing a wood fence" »

Tips for mowing your lawn

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Mowing your lawn seems like a simple enough task right? After all, how hard is it to start a lawn mower and push it across the lawn? But what you may not know is that there is a correct way to mow the lawn and some other small tips to help mow it so that it grows better and looks nicer. Here are some simple tips for mowing your lawn.

  •  During the warmest seasons of the year which is normally in June and July grasses really begin to grow. And we all know if we have a yard of grass it's going to need to get mowed; probably every week. And like we said before there is actually a correct way to mow it so that grass can grow at its fullest potential. When you mow your lawn at the correct height you are actually promoting a more dense, higher quality turf that not only looks good but will compete vigorously to keep the weeds out. One way of knowing if you've let the grass get too long is if when you're done mowing it still looks like a hayfield; that would be bad.

"Tips for mowing your lawn" »

Staying on top of weeding

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You have any type of garden be it flowers or vegetables you have weeds. Weeds are not bad they are just plants that are growing where you don't want them. Staying on top of weeding can be an ongoing problem. Here are some different ways to help you keep those weeds at bay.

The first thing you should do is take the time to weed your gardens fully. Get all the weeds out and start with a fresh garden with only the plants you choose in those gardens. If you are unsure if a plant is a weed or a plant you can do some research on the internet or take part of the plant to a local greenhouse. Once you have your gardens fully weeded it is best to look at ways to prevent those pulled weeds from coming back into your gardens.

After weeding your gardens you will now want to try and limit the weeds that are coming into your garden. There are a few things you can do to limit the amount of weeds in your garden including border patrol, use less cultivation, and cover up the gardens with a mulch.

"Staying on top of weeding" »

Simplifying yard and house work

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Yard work and house work can definitely become tedious; there are probably a million other things people would rather be doing. So it seems that the solution would be in simplifying yard and house work so you can get on to the things you really want to do. Since yard and house work can't be avoided, here are some suggestions on how to simplify the yard and house work.

Simplifying yard work

Yard work can often times seem extremely tedious when there are so many other things you want to be doing. The key to getting yard work done and done quickly is to simplify. Here are some suggestions on how to do it:


  • Get the family involved. Whether you have a large or a small family there's no shame in getting family members involved with everything. Getting family members involved in yard work can seriously cut back on the amount of time you spend outside doing tedious chores. Of course if you have young children they won't be able to with mowing the lawn or prune bushes but they can help with getting things picked up and organized. Older children can however be taught to prune bushes and trees, as well as mow the lawn. When taught how to correctly do things it can really make things a lot easier.

  •  Work on a little bit at a time. Instead of doing everything in one day or night it might make more sense to take some time each day to keep things up in the yard. Take one day to mow the lawn, another to use the edger, and another to trim up bushes and trees. When you divide things up into different days it doesn't seem like such a huge load to do every Saturday.

"Simplifying yard and house work" »

Keeping your yard cool

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It can be difficult during the hot summer months keeping your yard cool and giving your grass a chance to grow as well as the vegetables in the garden. Yes, keeping your yard cool in the summer seems to be a challenge but there may be some ways to shade the grass, vegetables, and even your kids.

Planting shade trees in your yard is probably the best way to get some shade out there and keep the yard cool from the summer heat and sun. Despite the shade however, shade trees are extremely beneficial for several of other things. They are great for privacy, keeping the lawns healthy and green, and perhaps the best benefit, keeping our homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. They are great for wildlife and can make the landscape of our home look beautiful.

"Keeping your yard cool" »

Encouraging healthy soil

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If you're planning on having a garden you'll need to know how to get healthy soil. About half of the gardening problems people run into are due to the soil they are gardening or planting in. The foundation of a successful garden is encouraging healthy soil.

Fortunately creating healthy soil isn't as hard as you might think. With the right materials, the right preparation, and some time and energy you can create healthy, rich, and fertile soil.

"Encouraging healthy soil" »

Aerating your lawns

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Getting the healthy lawn that you want and deserve is to aerate your lawn. If your lawn is looking a little unhealthy you can breathe some life back into it with some aeration. How then do you aerate your lawn?
Aerating your lawn should be done after you have checked your lawn for insects, worms or other diseases. You should also make sure that your lawn is properly watered and fertilized. If your lawn is still looking unhealthy then you should look into getting your lawn aerated to get it healthy and plush once again.

To aerate your lawn you will be inserting holes in your lawn for better water absorption. Not only will the holes in your lawn create better water absorption but also better nutrient absorption and the elimination of thatch. Thatch is a lawn problem that starts when the top few inches of soil becomes extremely hard and compact. When your lawn becomes this compact it is hard for water and any other nutrients to penetrate the soil and get down to the roots of your grass, this is when aerating will help your lawn. Aerating your lawn will also enhance the oxygen levels to your soil because of the holes you have made into the lawn. The extra oxygen levels will help to decompose any organisms living in the thatch.

"Aerating your lawns" »

Winterizing your lawn mower


Here are some tips for winterizing your lawn mower. People know to winterize boats, winterize jet skis, etc. but what do you need to winterize your lawn mower? Do you take it somewhere, or can you do it yourself?

Let's face it, when fall comes, and the leaves start to change, the air gets cold, and we all know winter is coming. So, this means, it is time to prepare for winter, and if you are smart, and prepare your lawn mower, it will last longer, and work better for you all year long.

"Winterizing your lawn mower" »

Healthy lawn tips and tricks

When you create your home you want to make it representative of you. You work to make everything look great. Your lawn should be no exception. A healthy lawn is going to make your home and yard look great. The following are some tips and tricks for a healthy looking lawn:

First and foremost, timing is key to a healthy lawn. Horticultural experts agree that proper lawn care in the Fall has greater impact than similar efforts any other time of year. The reason is that Fall is the season when turfgrass growth begins to slow. At this point, you can help your grass develop the stamina it will need to survive the stress of winter.

"Healthy lawn tips and tricks" »

Fertilizer and weed control for lawns

If you want your lawns to look great and be weed free, you need to focus on fertilizing and weed control. The following are some tips for fertilizing and weed control for your lawn:

 First and foremost, apply fertilizer with weed control in the Fall. This application of a weed-and-feed type fertilizer provides longer lasting benefits to a lawn than that of any other time of the year.

 Apply your fall application of lawn fertilizer about one month before the first frost.

"Fertilizer and weed control for lawns" »

Aerating your soil

Aerating your soil is a huge part of having a health lawn. However, most people do not realize this, and are not really sure how to go about it. For a beautiful and health law, aeration is a must, so the following are some questions and answers about aeration:

Why do you even need to aerate your soil?
Your lawn is a fun place to sit, to play games, to run through sprinklers, to have impromptu flag football, etc. However, after a year of a being trampled upon by various activities that tend to pack the soil, the grass roots need a breath of fresh air (oxygen). Aerating your soil provides for respiration for your lawn. Only proper aeration can provide this for your lawn. It gives your lawn what it needs because it helps the root systems better establish themselves for the coming winter.

"Aerating your soil" »

How lawn aeration is important to healthy lawns

How lawn aeration is important to healthier lawns. Believe it or not, lawn aeration is very important. If you want strong lush grass, here are some tips that will help you get the lawn you are looking for.

What is lawn aeration? Well it is the removal of small pieces of soil plugs. Basically little holes are put into the ground your grass is in. This will allow for a freer movement of the grass and the soil around the grass.

"How lawn aeration is important to healthy lawns" »

How to get greener grass and spend less watering

Everyone likes a green lawn but with water resources running low you don't want to pay the extra to get the nice green lawn. There are ways to save on your watering bill instead of letting your grass die. We'll take a look at how to get a greener grass and spend less watering.

First you should get the right grass seed. Start with some research on what types of grass are best for your climate. The three main things you need to know about your climate is how cold are the winters, how much it rains and your type of soil. Knowing these will help you choose a grass seed that will be easier to maintain. Grass that is made for your climate will not require as much watering as a grass that is not. You will get a green lawn and spend less watering.

"How to get greener grass and spend less watering" »

Make sure you do not let dandelions infest your grass

Make sure you do not let dandelions infest your grass. Dandelions are one of the most interesting weeds out there. They look cool to kids. They even put a bit of color out there. However they are weeds. They do ruin your lawn. So whether you take them serious or not, it is important to make sure that they do not infest your grass.

Depending on what the stages in growth of dandelions you have in your yard, will probably affect the result you will need to use. There are simple things for removing one or so plants, to the more drastic measures it would take to remove a full infestation. Though, do not give up. It will get better.

"Make sure you do not let dandelions infest your grass" »

Keeping your grass greener longer

Keeping your grass greener longer. That lush, feeling of green grass between your toes is not like any other feeling. There is no imitating the real green grass experience. So how do you keep your grass greener longer?

There are six main things that take play in the greenness of your lawn. Those things are:

"Keeping your grass greener longer" »

What to do if your pet urine is killing your lawn


If you want to have a beautiful lawn and a dog, you may come across a few problems. This is because when your dog urinates on your lawn, it may cause that area to burn and yellowish dead spots to appear. There are high levels of nitrogen in your pet's urine, which causes unsightly patches and burnt spots in your lawn. If your dog is a female, you may find this especially true. This is because each time a female dog urinates, she squats in just one area, while male dogs usually lift their leg and urinate on trees, shrubs and fences. There are a few solutions which may help you have a beautiful lawn and a dog.
1. After your dog urinates, immediately saturate the area with a large amount of water. By saturating the area you will dilute and evenly distribute the nitrogen in the urine.

"What to do if your pet urine is killing your lawn" »

ays to keep the ground around your fruit and nut trees free from debris


Keeping the ground around your fruit and nut trees clear of debris will reduce common gardening problems such as insects and diseases. It is also more attractive. Many times insects, disease and weed pests come from your own garden or nearby areas where they have been living on weeds and plant debris. It is also quite common to inadvertently bring pests into your garden on contaminated seeds, transplants, soil or equipment. To help avoid bringing any of these problems into your garden, it is important to make sure any crop seed and organic soil amendments, including manure, do not have weed seeds or pathogens. When ever possible, use certified seed or stock. When you are moving plants in from another garden, check for signs of insects or diseases. Make sure to check the roots for signs of root knot nematodes. Never put soil in your garden or around your fruit and nut trees that you suspect may be infested with nematodes or stems of Bermuda grass. Always clean gardening equipment when moving from garden to garden. This is important because nematodes and soil-borne diseases may be transported in soil which may adhere to cultivating tools. Also, keep in mind weed seeds and disease may be inadvertently transported on lawn mowers.

Remove any plant debris from previous crops before planting a new crop. Pests like the navel orange worm and the codling moth survive in old cull fruit and nuts that remain in the trees or on the soil surface. Be sure to remove the fruit and nut culls or knock them down to the ground and then till them into the soil. It is also important to remove or destroy pruning's that may be infested with borers.

"ays to keep the ground around your fruit and nut trees free from debris" »

Tips for keeping your grass green even if a dog pees on it


If you are a dog owner then you have probably noticed that you have quite a few dead spots in your lawn. And if you know much about pets you are probably aware of the fact that these dead spots are the result of your dog peeing on your lawn. What happens when a dog pees on your lawn is that the acid in the dogs urine causes your lawn to burn which then leaves a nice dead spot in the middle of your beautifully maintained lawn. So now that you have dogs and your grass is taking a beating you might be wondering if there is anything that you can do to keep your grass green even if your dog continues to pee on it. Well the good news is that there are numerous things that you can do to keep your grass green even with dogs peeing on it, so if one idea doesn't work for you then simply try the next suggestion and so on until you find something that works for you.

Here are some tips on how to keep your lawn green even if your dog pees on it.

"Tips for keeping your grass green even if a dog pees on it" »

How to make your lawn look like it belongs on the golf course


There are so many different things that you can do to make you lawn look well maintained. If your lawn doesn't look as green as you would like it and you don't know what to do about it here are some tips on how to make your lawn look like it belongs on the golf course.

The first tip on how to make your lawn look like it belongs on the golf course is to make sure that it is getting enough water. The best way to make sure that your lawn is getting enough water is to water your lawn a certain amount for a couple of days and then see how your lawn looks. If your lawn looks like it is dying or turning yellow you will need to up you're watering to maybe twice a day.

"How to make your lawn look like it belongs on the golf course" »

How to care for your grass during the hot summer months


The hot summer months can really take a toll on your lawn, with the dry weather and constant sun causing it to dry out and turn brown. When it comes to lawn care in the summer, there are a couple of - you can let the grass turn brown and go dormant, or you can take care of it so it will remain green throughout the summer.

Keeping your lawn green in the hot summer months requires a little extra effort, but it is not difficult to do. The following are some tips for how to care for your grass in the summer:

"How to care for your grass during the hot summer months" »

How to trim your shrubs and bushes

There are a lot of different ways that people make their yards look good. If you have shrubs and bushes and want to improve the appearance of your yard, you might want to look into trimming your shrubs and bushes. If you want to trim your shrubs and bushes but do not know how, here are some tips on how to trim your shrubs and bushes.

The first tip on how to trim your shrubs and bushes is to figure out what kind of shape you are looking for. If you are trying to make your shrubs and bush the focal point of your front yard you will wan to make sure that you trim your shrubs and bushes so they look neat. You do not want to do something to complex when you are trimming your shrubs and bushes because you might not be able to copy the same pattern of trimming when you go to trim them the next time.

"How to trim your shrubs and bushes" »

How to keep your lawn weed free

There are so many different ways that you can take care of your yard. One problem that people have with their lawn is that they can't seem to find a way to keep it weed free. There are so many different things that can come into play to keep weeds at bay and out of your lawn. Here are some tips on how to keep your lawn week free.

The first tip on how to keep your lawn weed free is to make sure that you are fertilizing your lawn. You cannot just fertilize your lawn once a season and expect your lawn to be full and thick. If your lawn is full and thick it will help choke out the weeds because there will not be room for roots to grow. So make sure that you keep up on your fertilizing. If you don't want to fertilize you own lawn you can always price around and see what it would cost to have some one else come and fertilize it for you. If you have a professional company come and fertilizes your lawn they will make sure that you get all of the steps that your lawn needs when it comes to fertilizing.

"How to keep your lawn weed free" »

How to keep the pests at bay in your yard

There are so many different things that you have to worry about when you have a yard. One thing that you have to worry about is the pest that might be lurking around. If you have a garden the last thing you want to have is pests. Having pests in your yard can cause havoc on your flowers, plants, and if you have a garden all of your crops. If you are looking for way to get rid of the pests in your yard, here are some tips on how to keep the pests at bay in your yard.

The first tip on how to keep the pests at bay in your yard is if you have a garden. If you have a garden you might want to think about planting marigolds around the perimeter. Marigolds have a string scent that the will attract lady bugs and other pests that might be ruining your crops. The marigolds will help be a distraction so that you crops will be saved.

"How to keep the pests at bay in your yard" »

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